Accuser defends woman, but police charge her with prostitution

Published: Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 05:03 PM.

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One of two accusers in a robbery and assault case spoke in defense Thursday of the woman charged with the crimes. James Doyle Taylor Jr. of Gastonia says Karen Rhoden was not the one who beat him up and robbed him, and that there’s no reason she should be in jail.

Police allege Rhoden, 25, of 1423 Beachwood Drive, Gastonia, and Travis Jeffrey Cox, 22, of 1403 Walnut Ave., Gastonia, twice lured local men to a vacant Gastonia home before beating and robbing them. Police say the crimes happened twice — once Sept. 29 to Taylor and a second time Oct. 4 to Warren Davidson of Gastonia.

Taylor told a judge he and another accuser were not the only victims. “There were not two victims … there were three,” Taylor said. “She was forced to participate in this.” Rhoden is a friend, Taylor said. When he met up with her that Sunday night, he says, he thought he was simply being a good Samaritan.

“She called me and said her grandma had kicked her and her kids out,” Taylor said. Taylor didn’t want Rhoden and her children to be without a home, so he went to pick them up. He says when he got there Rhoden didn’t have her children and was crying. She told him to drive to the vacant home on Mauney Avenue, Taylor said.

One of two accusers in a robbery and assault case spoke in defense Thursday of the woman charged with the crimes. James Doyle Taylor Jr. of Gastonia says Karen Rhoden was not the one who beat him up and robbed him, and that there’s no reason she should be in jail.

Police allege Rhoden, 25, of 1423 Beachwood Drive, Gastonia, and Travis Jeffrey Cox, 22, of 1403 Walnut Ave., Gastonia, twice lured local men to a vacant Gastonia home before beating and robbing them. Police say the crimes happened twice — once Sept. 29 to Taylor and a second time Oct. 4 to Warren Davidson of Gastonia.

Taylor told a judge he and another accuser were not the only victims. “There were not two victims … there were three,” Taylor said. “She was forced to participate in this.” Rhoden is a friend, Taylor said. When he met up with her that Sunday night, he says, he thought he was simply being a good Samaritan.

“She called me and said her grandma had kicked her and her kids out,” Taylor said. Taylor didn’t want Rhoden and her children to be without a home, so he went to pick them up. He says when he got there Rhoden didn’t have her children and was crying. She told him to drive to the vacant home on Mauney Avenue, Taylor said.

There, police allege Taylor was beaten by the two and robbed. However, Taylor claims Rhoden ran away crying. According to police, the incidents involving Taylor and then Davidson were initially reported as kidnappings. Police now say nothing happened to justify a kidnapping charge. “The facts do not warrant a kidnapping charge based off the information that the victims were in a compromising situation,” said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt with Gastonia Police.He would not describe the details of that compromising situation.

But Rhoden now faces an additional charge of prostitution and financial card theft. Taylor says there was nothing compromising about his situation. “I thought I was helping a friend,” he said.

Davidson’s debit card was used at a gas station shortly after the attack. Rhoden and Cox were both jailed on $500,000 secured bonds.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.